Discussion with Professor Bernadette Pérez on Academic Leadership and Guidance
In an exclusive interview for a "Junior Paper (JP)" feature, Professor Pérez shared her unique research journey that began at a women's clinic in Denver. Working there, she was required to prove patients' lawful residency status, an experience that sparked her interest in broader histories of race and Indigenous history.
After completing her Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs, Professor Pérez delved into women's clinics in Denver. This practical experience, coupled with time off between degrees, provided her with valuable life experiences beyond educational institutions, shaping her eventual focus on academia.
Initially, Professor Pérez saw herself only as a Latinx historian. However, her research expanded to include a wide range of subjects, culminating in her current focus on the sugar beet industry in Colorado.
Professor Pérez's research aims to understand the longer history of racism against Mexicans in Colorado, particularly as it relates to the sugar beet industry. Her work uncovers the ideological construction that got built around planting European sugar beets in Colorado and how it became a way of "Americanizing" the land in the U.S. West after the Indian Wars.
Interestingly, Professor Pérez did not initially plan to focus on Mexican migrant workers in the sugar beet industry. Her research expanded to include a broader historical context, thanks to her surroundings at the University of Minnesota, particularly its Native American and Indigenous Studies program.
Undergraduates are encouraged to be open and attentive to their environment to develop their work, as Professor Pérez's journey demonstrates. She emphasizes choosing a research topic based on personal investment and interest.
Professor Pérez's research includes interviews across the state of Colorado. The author, Rafi Lehmann, has started brainstorming a senior thesis topic based on Professor Pérez's advice about personal investment in a research topic.
The author expresses gratitude to Professor Pérez for her time and generosity. Experiences outside of educational institutions and family histories can shape a research project, as Professor Pérez's journey testifies. However, for more detailed information about Professor Pérez's biography or research trajectory, one might consider accessing academic profiles, CVs, or publications related directly to Professor Pérez or contacting the relevant university department.
- Professor Pérez's senior thesis, possibly rooted in her personal experience and interests, may delve into a topic derived from her research on Mexican migrant workers in the sugar beet industry.
- The practical, independent work Professor Pérez undertook at women's clinics during her time off between degrees has significantly contributed to her education-and-self-development, fostering personal-growth and shaping her future research trajectory.
- The author is inspired to embark on their own independent work, a junior paper perhaps, guided by Professor Pérez's advice about choosing a research topic based on personal investment and interest.
